Whale Falls: Oases in The Deep

The worlds deep oceans (below 200 m) were once thought to be devoid of life. In fact, the depths of the oceans below the continental shelf, harbor more life in sediments than do tropical rain forests or shallow water reefs. Much of the life is limited by the fact that there is limited hard substrate in the deep ocean. However, there may be more hard substrate surfaces than previously known. Modern era anthropogenic hard substrates from shipwrecks, cargo containers, all deposited along the seabed below historical and present-day shipping routes. Natural hard substrate is also deposited on the seafloor in the form of rafted gravels and boulders, dropped by icebergs making their voyages from glaciers into the open oceans. Biological material such as wood is also deposited, after long journeys from the rivers and coastlines past the continental shelves of the terrestrial world to finally sink, carrying nutrients to the depths. Also includes whale carcasses that form some of the most diverse and transitional species-rich point-source organic enrichment; habitat sites within the deep sea.

Chemoautotrophic whale-fall community, including bacteria mats, vesicomyid clams in the sediments, galatheid crabs, polynoids, and a variety of other invertebrates. The 35-ton grey whale was originally implanted on the sea floor at 1,674 m depth in the Santa Cruz Basin in 1998. This image was captured six years later by Craig Smith from the University of Hawaii. Image courtesy of Craig Smith, University of Hawaii.

Chemoautotrophic whale-fall community, including bacteria mats, vesicomyid clams in the sediments, galatheid crabs, polychaete worms, brittle stars, sea anemones and a variety of other invertebrates. The 35 ton Grey Whale was initially implanted on the seafloor at 1674 m depth in the Santa Cruz Basin in 1998. This image was captured six years later by Craig Smith from the University of Hawaii.Whale fall communities were first speculated to exist during the so-called “golden age of whaling.” Given that an estimated 390,000 carcasses per year fell to the sea floor, before the beginning of whaling in the 1800s the 1850s. It is no wonder new whale fall specialist species have been being discovered on whale carcasses starting in 1854, when geologist S. P. Woodward, discovered a mytilid mussel occupying the blubber of a dead whale, floating off the cape of Good Hope. This species later found to be of the genus Adipicola pelagica,was again reported in 1927, on whale remains in the North Atlantic. Then again in 1967 on a whale skull brought up from 439 m off South Africa. Another species of the same genus A. simpsoni described living in abundance on whale skulls trawled from the sea floor to the west of the UK this species now accepted as idas simpsoni. During the mid-1960s, the increased practice of deepwater trawling prompted the discovery of numerous whale carcasses and their associated communities. These discoveries were further advanced by the first explorations of the deep sea by submersibles; during the late 70s. This increase of newly discovered species prompted further experimental studies to ascertain the stages of whale carcass faunal succession and led to the documentation of molluscs such as gastropods, mussels, harpacticoid copepods, sipunculans and polychaetes, all found to have been living on whale bones.

The first of three stages of whale fall succession last’s for months to years, consisting of mobile scavengers drawn to the carcass by their olfactory senses (sense of smell). During this stage, species of deepwater sharks of the family Somniosidae, commonly (but not correctly…) known as sleeper sharks, fish known as rattails, hagfish, and invertebrate scavengers such as Galatheid crabs, and Brittle stars feast on the soft body tissues. Around 40 to 60 Kg average can be consumed each day during this stage; meanwhile, the whale also leaks out fats and fluids that seep into the surrounding sediments, further enriching the area of the of the fall approximately 50 m2

The second stage begins after all the soft tissue is removed over months and years, and exemplified by the colonization of the exposed bones and organically enriched sediments. Vast congregations of crustaceans, polychaete worms, and Osedax worms,up to 40,000 m2 gather, while bacteria form dense microbial mats. However, during this stage, the bones are also changing. As they start to decompose, they begin to release sulphide, due to the decomposition of the lipids (fats) within the bone, paving the way for the third stage.

Stage three is the most extended stage and can last for decades. It is also the most species-rich of the lot, with an average of 185 macro-fauna: (species that can be seen with the naked eye). This stage is known as the sulphophilic, sulphur loving, stage. Categorised by the accumulation of a rich variety of chemoautotrophic organisms such as Idas washingtonia (Bivalve Mollusc), Ilyarachna profunda(Isopod), and Gastropods Cocculina craigsmithiPyropelta corymbaandPyropelta musaica,to name a few.Using the oxidizing sulphur bacteria to feed on the sulphide produced by the breaking down of the skeleton, the whale fall communities occupy a tightly defined niche.

These species, rarely documented in other habitats, reported species diversity and richness that outnumbers that of deep-sea vents and is comparable to cold water seeps. Furthermore, given that an estimated 390,000 carcasses per year fell to the sea floor, before the beginning of whaling in the 1800s, and that within our lifetime the approximate numbers falling to the ocean floor are estimated to be six times less at 65,000 a year. The question should be not are these species whale-fall specialists but how many species of whale fall specialist organisms have already been lost due to anthropogenic influence.

3 Comments Already

A strong opening which captured my attention and a well written article which kept me reading to the wonderful video at the end! I like the way you set the scene of whale fall communities and justify the importance of these habitats.
The structure is good, with clear paragraph topics which are well linked, so that there is flow between them. I think the paragraphs where you describe each stage of whale carcass succession are especially good. I think you could further improve the signposting of information in your article by using some subtitles, perhaps including questions that the reader might be asking?
You use lots of relevant case studies and provide useful links and citations. However, I think there are a couple of terms in this article which could still do with a short definition in the text/ hyperlink to an explanation (e.g. succession, chemoautotrophic, copepods, poychaetes, cold water seeps).
A very strong ending, making the reader think about how anthropogenic disturbances impact these communities.

Thank you Eleanor
I think you are right and I will be editing it some more during the coming week, thank you for your comments so far and keep them coming. Now I have a better idea about what is expected, ill do better by the comments I leave you too, when I revise them for your previous post, and for your next. Please feel free to comment again when I have done some editing. I look forward to reading your next wonderful post.

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